Page 2 of Guarded by the Gargoyle (Hidden Hollow #3)

PROLOGUE 2

WILLOW

M y Grandfather left me three gifts when he died. The first two were keys—a huge old, wrought iron monstrosity with an intricately formed head that looked like a lion and a tiny golden key that looked like it might open a little girl’s music box or unlock a diary.

“Keep them with you always, Willow my love,” he told me in a husky whisper—his voice a sad shadow of the friendly bellow it had been when he was healthy. “One will lead you to safety and the other to protection—never let them leave your side.”

I swore to do as he asked—it was his dying wish, how could I deny him? I put the two mismatched keys on a thick silver chain and hung them around my neck. I didn’t do it because I truly believed that the keys could really keep me safe or protect me—I did it to remember Pop-pop who had loved me and raised me since my parents were killed when I was only eleven.

But I told you that he left me three gifts, didn’t I? Well, the third gift I didn’t know about until it was almost too late—and it nearly got me killed. I didn’t truly understand what it was until I was running down a dark alley not far from Bourbon Street, being chased by creatures beyond my mortal comprehension that hungered for my soul…

I cast a glance over my shoulder and saw that they were still there—the red, glowing eyes and the slavering mouths, open and panting for my blood. Oh Goddess, what was I going to do?

“Faster, my child!” whispered a voice in my ear. “They are almost upon you, Willow my love—you must hurry—HURRY!”

“But where…where am I…going?” I panted. As a curvy girl, I wasn’t exactly built for this kind of exercise. Also, the voice I was hearing was absolutely Pop-pop who had been dead for over a year now, but I wasn’t about to question him or wonder how I could hear him speaking in my ear.

“You will know it when you see it. And you must not hesitate!” my Grandfather’s voice warned. “Hurry, Willow my love—those are Hell Hounds. If they catch you, they will drag you down into the Pit with them!”

I put on another burst of speed, though by now I felt like my lungs were going to explode! I nearly tripped over a drunk sprawled out in the alley as I passed several stinking dumpsters, overflowing with last night’s waste. We party hard here in The Big Easy and we leave a big mess too.

“Around the corner, Willow my love!” Pop-pop’s voice urged me.

I saw a corner straight ahead—I nearly missed it because I was going too fast to stop. But I managed to skid to an almost-halt and run down an even darker and narrower alley. The breath was tearing in my lungs and my thighs and calves were on fire. I couldn’t keep this up much longer!

And then I saw it—there, glowing at the end of the alley, was a door.

I don’t mean the whole door was glowing—it was more like the frame of the door was outlined in light.

“ There—the door! Use it—use the key!” my Grandfather urged me.

“Wh-which…k-key?” I gasped, so out of breath I was barely able to get the words out. If I got out of this mess, I was definitely going to hit the gym, I promised myself. Not to lose weight—just to be sure that it was easier to run for my life. I skidded to a stop in front of the door which was outlined in silvery light and started fumbling for the keys around my neck.

“Pop-pop…which key?” I panted again.

But there was no answer from the little voice in my ear. Instead, I heard a low, ominous growling coming from the other end of the alley. Turning my head, I saw three sets of glowing red eyes glaring in my direction.

Shit.

Yanking the necklace off my neck, I grabbed for the keys as they slid off the chain. I only had time to try one of them and if I guessed wrong, I was dead!

But maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. Even though it ended so disastrously, the day I learned about my third gift started normally enough.

How could I know it would end with me opening a portal to Hell…and then finding my way into Hidden Hollow?